Safety-gripper for manipulating glass plates and other articles.



P. O. A. ROBAIL.

SAFETY GRIPPER FOR MANIPULATING GLASS PLATES AND OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1912. 1,049,150, Patented Dec.31, 1912.

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SAFETY GRIPPER FOR MANIPULATING GLASS PLATES AND OTHER ARTIGLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZS, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

PAUL CHARLES AUGUSTE ROBAIL, OF FRANIERES, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR T SOCIETEANONYME DES MANUFACTURES DES GLACES ET PRODUITS CHIIVIIQUES DE SAINTGGBAIN, CI-IAUNY ET CIRCY, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

SAFETY-GRIIE'PER FOR MANIPULATING GLASS PLATES AND OTHER ARTICLES.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, PAUL CHARLES AUeUsTE Rosana, a citizen of theRepublic of France, and a resident of F ranieres, Belgium, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Safety-Grippers for ManipulatingGlass Plates and other Articles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a safety gripper device serving for themanipulation of glass plates or sheets and other articles; this gripperis normally closed and cannot allow the article which is undergoingtransport, to escape until a certain releasing operation is performed;in this way any premature release of the article which is beingtransported is absolutely prevented.

The annexed drawing shows by way of example two methods of carrying outthe object of the invention.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 relate to a first form of constructing the gripper,which is pneumatically controlled.

Fig. 1 shows on the left hand an end view and o-n-the right hand asectional view on line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partsection, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. .Fig. 3 is a detail in sectionalelevation. Fig. 4 shows on the left hand side an end view and on theright hand side, a section on line H of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a section online 55 of Fig. at.

The apparatus consists essentially of two jaws a forcibly pressed oneagainst the other by springs or elastic washers of any suitable kindpreviously compressed, the compressing strength of which is regulated insuch a way that it will prevent any slipping of the articles heldbetween the jaws. The two jaws which are identical are composed each ofa fixed metal framework 0 furnished at its lower part with a gutter intowhich enters a rubber cylinder (Z which extends the whole length of thegripper. The rubber cylinders (Z have for object to cushion shocksagainst the ground and to insure the tensioning of the felt pieces 6hereafter described. The metallic frames of the two jaws are incurvedlike a shell f and are connected to their upper portions by assemblingbolts 9. Upon the bottom of the shell f is fixed a circular socket hwhich serves as a fixed guide for the washers b.

Specification of Letters Patent.

App1ication filed March 28, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Serial No. 686,799.

The movable portion of the jaws is composed'of two shells 2' boxed withtight joints into the shells f and upon the internal face of which bearthe washers b. The external face of the shells z' is provided with adrum or pad j of rubber or other elastic material;

this pad is itself covered with rubbered cloth is which is fixed to theframe by the bolts is and 70 A sheet of felt e commencing from thetensioning bolts Z covers the rubber-proofed sheet 70, the rubbercylinder (Z and is fixed at its other extremity by means of bolts mplaced in the axial line of compression of the washers Z). The interiorof the shells is connected by means of piping n to a vacuum pump placedupon the lifting apparatus or in any other suitable position. Thegripper is-normally closed, that is to say, the movable portions 2' ofthe jaws are normally applied one against the other by pressure of thewashers b. If communication be established between the vacuum pipe atand the interior of the shells, the air is rarefied in the latter, andthe atmospheric pressure acting from the exterior causes the shells 2'to recede into the shells The movable parts separate remaining parallelto one another, and the gripper is thus opened. Upon again allowing airto enter within the shells the closing of the gripper is elfected.

It will be seen that in case of accident, stoppage of the vacuum pump,breakage of the piping, etc., the gripper automatically closes retainingthe article instead of releasing it. Moreover, if any derangement occurswhile the gripper is at rest, warning of this will be given when it iswished to separate the jaws.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the screw 0 which enables thecompression of the washers Z) to be regulated, by bringing together themovable shell 2' and the fixed shell f.

A rail p (Fig. l) faced with felt and bolted to the bottom of thegripper is intended to cushion shocks at the moment of engaging theplate or other object. The

gripper is suspended from the lifting de vice, as shown in Fig. 2, bymeans of connecting rods and bearings and the piping is furnished withjoints which allow the gripper to turn about a vertical axis and ahorizontal axis.

In the second form of construction (Figs. 1 and 5) the separatingmovement of the jaws is obtained by means of two electro magnets g whichcan act upon the movable shells by the intermediary of inclined ramps1", or by means of any other mechanical device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as such and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatic safety gripper comprising a fixed gripping body composedof two shells, jaws formed of movable shells, sliding in the said fixedshells and springs interposed between the said fixed shells and the saidmovable shells and operative connections to the interior of the shellsfor separating said jaws.

2. An automatic safety gripper of the type described comprising a fixedgripping body, composed of two shells, jaws formed of movable shellssliding in the said fixed shells, springs interposed between the saidfixed shells and the said movable shells and means independent of thearticle gripped for separating the said jaws against the action of saidsprings.

8. An automatic safety gripper of the type described, comprising a fixedgripping body composed of two shells, jaws formed of movable shellssliding in the said fixed shells, springs interposed between the saidfixed shells and the said movable shells and means for creating a vacuumbetween the fixed and movable shells.

4. An automatic safety gripper of the type described, comprising a fixedgripping body composed of two shells, sliding jaws carried by saidshells, springs interposed between said fixed and movable shells andmeans operative from the interior of the shells for separating said jawsin parallel planes against the action of said springs.

5. A safety gripper for glass plates and othenobjects, comprising agripping body, grippmg aws comprising a pair of oppositely-faced shellsslidably mounted on said body, means for maintaining said movable jawsnormally closed, elastic pads provided on the contacting faces of saidjaws, and positive means for separating said jaws in parallel planesagainst the action of said normally closing means.

6. A safety gripper for glass plates and other objects, comprising agripping body, means for suspending said body, shells fixed upon saidbody, said fixed shells being arranged in axially opposed pairs, movablejaws sliding in said fixed shells, springs interposed between said fixedshells and said movable jaws, said springs serving to close together thepairs of said movable jaws, elastic pads provided on the contactingfaces of said movable jaws, means for cushioning the descent of saidgripper body upon the object and upon the ground and means forseparating said jaws against the action of the springs.

7. A gripper of the type described, comprising a fixed gripping bodycomposed of oppositely faced fixed shells, movable shells mounted in thejuxtaposed faces of said fixed shells and presenting their grippingfaces constantly in parallel planes, means tending to hold said movableshells constantly in gripping relation, and means for separating saidmovable shells to free the article gripped between the same.

8. In a gripper of the type described, a gripper jaw comprisingoppositely faced fixed shells, and movable shells carried on thejuxtaposed faces of said fixed shells, for gripping an interposed body,said fixed shells having extensions forming lips c, together withcushioning material at the edges of said lips, for the purposespecified.

9. In a gripper of the type described, a gripper jaw comprisingoppositely faced fixed shells, and movable shells carried on thejuxtaposed faces of said fixed shells, for gripping an interposed body,said fixed shells having extensions forming lips 0, together withcushioning material 0, carried by the fixed shells and passing over saidlips and the meeting faces of the movable shells, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL CHARLES AUGUS'IE ROBAIL. Witnesses JACQUES LEJEUNE, Liion PEILLET.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

